Well the CT guided Fine Needle and Core Needle Biopsies of my Level 2 Right Axillary lymph node that was PET FDG avid (SUV 5.4 I think) was done.

I thought it went great. Cytotechnologist came down and looked at the FNA aspiration slides in near real time (with the introducer needle still in me, and still laying on the CT table).

Turns out the FNA needle got mostly all blood, some lymph tissue, but insufficient for characterization.

Core needle got all fibrous fatty tissue, not lymph tissue, also a non-starter for pathology.

So a bit of a set back, with more waiting. Its something like a 90% chance the PET avid lymph node is just reactive in my situation (maybe 99%), but would be nice to check that box off definitively and move on one way or another.

I reached back out to my regular ENT Oncology team to see if they need to re-order another attempt, or if Interventional Radiology would automatically call me to reschedule a second attempt.

I said I'd be happy for a 2nd attempt or an excisional biopsy if a surgeon thinks it's a good candidate all things considered.

Will update once there is some more progress/decisions.